Sofascore Awards, measured by data alone, returns to Zadar, Croatia this week and will be broadcast to audiences in the United States and worldwide via CBS Sports. On the evening of June 4, the refurbished St. Nicholas Church complex will serve as the opening stage for the 2026 Sunset Sports Festival, as football’s most “objective” end-of-season honors night gets underway.
Del Piero leads the hosting lineup
Emmy-nominated host Kate Scott takes the reins as master of ceremonies, familiar to fans from CBS Sports’ Champions League Today. Juventus legend and World Cup winner Del Piero joins her on stage, backing the ceremony as a generational star. Behind the cameras, CBS Sports Executive Vice President of Production Pete Radowich directs the show—a 45-time Emmy winner whose résumé spans seven Super Bowls, four Olympics, and UEFA Champions League broadcasts.
Before the awards begin, a forum on “The Future of Italian Football” will be held. Del Piero appears alongside CBS Serie A analyst Michele Cicalise and Serie A Director of Marketing and Commercial Affairs Marco Messina, with CBS host Nico Cantatore moderating. The discussion will focus on Serie A’s next steps in branding, commercial growth, and competitive development.
Pure data decides the winners; last year drew over one million viewers
This year’s awards uphold Sofascore’s core principle: no voting and no jury. Sofascore Rating covers more than 100 parameters, using consistent performance across the full season as the basis, with live data directly determining each winner. Last year’s broadcast drew more than one million viewers, and this year CBS will again widen its reach.
Triple-header sports festival from Zadar to Punta Scala
The ceremony also opened the fifth Sunset Sports Festival, running from June 4 to 6 in Zadar and Petrčane. Representatives from the NBA, NFL, FIBA, DAZN, CBS Sports and other organizations gathered for three days of forums, conversations and networking at the cutting edge of sport, media, technology and entertainment. On June 5 and 6, the programme continued at Falkensteiner Resort Punta Skala. Sofascore also hosted a Networking Day, with dedicated sessions open to partners and media professionals.
For Serie A and Champions League fans, the night was both a final reckoning on the season’s numbers and a window onto how Italian football’s voice is reaching the international stage. Del Piero appeared in his dual roles as legend and pundit; his view on Serie A’s future may prove more worth watching than any trophy.
